CASE DISMISSED
Power has been restored to Minister of Finance, Christopher Sinckler, to fire Central Bank Governor Dr. DeLisle Worrell.
Just after 4 p.m. yesterday, the Court of Appeal lifted the six-day injunction that was preventing the Minister of Finance from removing Dr. Worrell from his post as one of the leading decision-makers on economic policies in the country.
Immediately following the lifting of the injunction, the Court then denied another application made by the Governor’s lead Attorney Gregory Nicholls, to have it extended to buy time for the case to be taken to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).
The Court is scheduled to give reasons for its decision to remove the injunction on Friday March 3.
Making his way from the courtroom to leave the Supreme Court Complex, Dr. Worrell did not make any comments to the media about his loss, just giving a little smile.
However, while issuing a brief statement, Attorney Nicholls said that the Governor was contented with the proceedings and is resolute that his objective is to ensure that there is a steady hand at the Central Bank in this most difficult time in Barbados.
Nicholls said while he awaits the arrival of next Friday to hear the reasons why the Court has made the decision in favour of the Minister of Finance, he would be conducting discussions with his client and colleagues, as it relates to further legal actions being taken. He said maybe as soon as today, he will be making an application for Dr. Worrell’s case to be heard before the CCJ.
“We are disappointed. We thought that we had a fairly solid case and before I comment I need to see what the Court’s decision is,” Nicholls said.
Last Friday morning, in the No.9 Supreme Court, Justice Randall Worrell lifted a five-day injunction to prevent Minister Sinckler from dismissing Dr. Worrell.
However, Justice Worrell reinstated the injunction around 3:30 p.m. that same day, after the Governor’s Attorneys applied for the matter to be taken to the Court of Appeal.
It has been reported that Minster Sinckler had given Dr. Worrell an ultimatum to voluntarily step down from his post, or be relinquished.
For two hours straight, Attorney Nicholls tried to convince Acting Chief Justice Sandra Mason and Justices of Appeal Kaye Goodridge and Andrew Burgess that they should overturn Justice Worrell’s decision to remove the initial decision which was made on February 12.
Nicholls argued that firing the Central Bank Governor would affect Dr. Worrell’s international reputation and would not be in the best interest of the wider public.
Meanwhile, Solicitor General Jennifer Edwards, QC, who represented Minister Sinckler, argued that if the Minister fired Dr. Worrell, he would be acting according to provisions and stipulations made in the contract between the two parties.
She said in weighing the balance of justice, the damages to the functioning of the economy would be more significant. (AH)